Chelsea midfielder Conor Gallagher is delighted to be representing the club's academy with the England squad this week.
Gallagher is one of seven players in the latest England camp to have spent time developing in the Chelsea Academy, a proportion that exceeds 25 per cent of Gareth Southgate's current group.
With so many familiar faces at St George's Park, it's hard for the midfielder not to be aware of the Cobham effect and he is particularly praiseworthy to the often unsung work that goes on over so many years.
"I heard that stat and I think it's a lot of credit to how the Academy is run by the coaches, Neil Bath and Jim Fraser [head and assistant of youth development] and their philosophies. The players that they've produced is amazing.
"One of the guys at Palace said to me that every player he's ever met who's come through Chelsea is always very humble and hard-working, and that's credit to Chelsea.
Congratulations from Southgate after making his England debut
"Marc Guehi is here as well and obviously we've been at Palace this season and we grew up in the Academy at Chelsea together so we're really close. We're normally together but all the lads are lovely guys and very easy to get along with. It's a very easy squad to come into, which is nice."
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